By Brendan Mattson

The list below is a continuation of Eric's previous blog on Yao Yao, or "essential medicinals." The items below were all translated from this Chinese source, which serves as a nice complement to our other blog on "yao yao." Items that are said to be "essential medicinals" are generally considered to be remarkably effective for a particular medicinal action. (Eric's note: In addition to raising an excellent question that revealed a fun cache of information, Brendan painstakingly translated the entire list that we found online. This list represents only about a third of the items that Brendan translated, the others will be posted in future blogs. Brendan is on the PCOM Chicago faculty and he is one of their school's greatest treasures.)

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Ma Huang: Acrid Warm Release Exterior, Disperse Lung Qi, Benefit Urination
Representative Formula: Ma Huang Tang

Xin Yi Hua: Nasal Obstruction Headache
Representative Formula: Cang Er Zi San

Xi Xin: Cold Fluids Lurking in Lung
Representative Formula: Xiao Qing Long Tang

Ge Gen: Neck and Back Stiffness and Pain
Representative Formula: Ge Gen Tang

Chai Hu: Liver GB and Shao Yang Disorders
Representative Formula: Xiao Chai Hu Tang

Sheng Ma: Ascend the Yang to Descend the Turbid
Representative Formulas: Bu Zhong, Qing Wei San

Shi Gao: Qi Level Heat, Stomach and Lung Fire
Representative Formula: Bai Hu Tang

Xia Ku Cao: Liver Yang Dizziness, Eye redness & Pain, Scrofula & Knotted Swellings

Sheng Di Huang: Clear Heat Cool Blood, Nourish Yin and Fluids
Representative Formula: Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang

Jin Yin Hua: All kinds of abscesses and Yang-type swollen sores
Representative Formula: Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin

Huang Lian: Damp-Heat Depressed Fire, Damp Heat Dysentery
Representative Formula: Huang Lian Jie Du Tang

Long Dan Cao: Liver Channel Damp-Heat, Repletion Fire
Representative Formula: Long Dan Xie Gan Tang

Da Qing Ye: Various patterns of Exuberant Toxic Heat in the Blood

Yu Xing Cao: Lung Abscess, Lung Tumor

Shan Dou Gen: Swelling and Pain of the Throat

Zao Xiu: Carbuncles and Toxic Boils (& various cancers)

Tu Fu Ling: Syphilis

Hong Teng & Bai Jiang Cao: Intestinal Abscess (also for colon cancer, UC, Crohns)

Da Huang: Yang Ming Bowel Disorder (Heat Bind Constipation)
Representative Formula: Da Cheng Qi Tang

Mang Xiao: Dry stool due to Stomach-Intestine Repletion Heat Bind
Representative Formula: Da Cheng Qi Tang